Former graduate of the University of Southern Maine, class of 1979, Karl Henrikson will take on the role of the 15th men’s basketball coach for the University. He accepted the position, following the resignation of Dan Costigan who coached the team for the past seven years.
Director of Athletics Al Bean, announced Karl Henrikson, as the new head coach for the Huskies, at a press conference last Tuesday. Henrikson, who was a four-year basketball player at the University of Southern Maine, was also coach for Maine Central Institute and the University of Maine at Presque Isle (UMPI). Henrikson said, ” Our immediate goal is to compete in every game we play and challenge for the little east conference title. Our long term goal is to have an impact at the national level.”
With over 20 years of coaching experience and many state of Maine contacts, Henrikson became the top choice for the new position. Bean said, ” He will be a great fit for the department. His experience and numerous contacts in the basketball world should serve him well as he works to recruit top student-athletes to our program. “Karl cares very deeply about USM and about the development of student- athletes. He understands the University and our athletic philosophy, and is an excellent choice to lead our men’s basketball program in the years ahead.”
Gary Fifield, head coach of the women’s basketball team, and a member of the search committee, commented on Tuesday about the selection process. “There were lots of candidates, it was a very difficult decision to make,” he said.
Henrikson has held coaching positions throughout his professional career at high school and college levels. He has coached at Lincoln Academy, in Newcastle Maine, and at Edward Little in Auburn, Maine as well as other schools. During his ten years coaching at the UMPI, he achieved a 122-79 record for the basketball program.
Along with this success, Henrikson assisted the Owls to a share of the Maine Athletic Conference regular season title in 1994-1995, as well as getting the team a spot in the conference tournament championship game in the 1993-1994 and 1995-1996 seasons. During his time there, his team attended six National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) District Five playoff berths and accomplished a NAIA top 25 ranking in the 1994-1995 season.
The team will start off their 2003 – 2004 season on November 22, at the Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut for the Tip – Off Tournament
Joe Pierce can be contacted at [email protected]